The survey found that employee-owned companies are more likely to deliver on those expectations, with S corporation ESOP workers giving their employers higher marks than their peers at non-ESOP companies for community investment, volunteering, economic opportunity, and social justice.
The survey, commissioned by the Employee-Owned S Corporations of America (ESCA), explored the opinions of rank-and-file employees on the importance of CSR at both ESOP and non-ESOP companies. Key findings include:
- Seven in 10 ESOP employees (72%) said their companies’ commitment to CSR was very important, compared to just 53% of non-ESOP employees.
- Only 2% of ESOP employees said their companies DO NOT value CSR, compared to 10% of non-ESOP employees.
- Greater than eight in 10 (84%) ESOP employees said it’s very important for their companies to invest in the local community, compared to 53% of non-ESOP employees.
- More than nine out of 10 ESOP employees (94%) felt their companies encourage volunteering in the local community, compared to just 76% of non-ESOP employees.
- ESOP employees were twice as likely as non-ESOP employees to say their companies made an effort to provide economic opportunity in the community.
- Nearly one half of ESOP employees said their companies made a high effort in a commitment to social justice/diversity/inclusion, compared to just one third of non-ESOP employees.
- ESOP employees would be less likely to accept a prospective job from an employer that did not have a strong commitment to corporate social responsibility.